$15,000 in Prize Money Is Offered at Wheelchair Tennis Invitational

The South End Racquet and Health Club in Torrance will be the site of 1990 Wheelchair Tennis Invitational today through Sunday, as some of the world’s top wheelchair athletes compete for largest purse ever offered in wheelchair sports.

The top eight men and six women from the United States, Australia, Israel, the Netherlands and France lead a field that will play for $15,000 in prize money.

Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the wheelchair sports programs at Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation in Lomita and Torrance.

Tournament director Dave Kiley, who has been called the best all-around wheelchair athlete in the world, was set to compete but had to cancel because he was injured in a basketball tournament in Europe last month. Still, Kiley said spectators will be pleased at the high level of competition.

“The quality of play and the increase in prize money should really raise some eyebrows and make people take this sport seriously,” Kiley said. “We don’t want to be seen as novelties. We want to be looked at as serious athletes striving to be the best at what we do.”

The tournament is open to the public. Preliminary play begins at 1 p.m. today. The final round is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sunday. South End is located at 2800 Skypark Drive.